Best Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Software

Compare the Top Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Software as of January 2026

What is Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Software?

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software is used by engineers to analyze and simulate the performance, behavior, and characteristics of designs in a virtual environment. CAE software enables engineers to perform various types of analysis, including structural, thermal, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetics, helping to ensure that products are optimized for functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness before physical prototypes are created. It includes tools for finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multibody dynamics (MBD), and optimization studies. CAE software is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing to improve product designs, reduce material usage, and shorten development cycles. Compare and read user reviews of the best Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

  • 1
    SkyCiv Structural 3D

    SkyCiv Structural 3D

    SkyCiv Engineering

    SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based Structural Analysis software that allows users to model, analyze and design complex 3D structures. It is completely online; requiring no installation to use. SkyCiv Structural 3D offers the very best in online structural analysis. It includes the following: - Powerful Analysis: Linear, P-Delta, Cables, Buckling, Plates, Frequency, RS - Integrated Design checks for steel, wood, connections, foundations, wind (AISC, NSD, AISI, EN, AS, CSA, BS plus more...)
    Starting Price: $79/month/user
  • 2
    Simul8

    Simul8

    Simul8 Corporation

    Decision making happens every day, at every level, in every business. Make your best decisions, every time - and deliver serious impact fast - with Simul8. Simulation software so intuitive, fast and effective youll use it every day. Base decisions on truth, not hunches. Understand and maximize flow. Reveal and inspire new ways to operate. Forecast and plan with confidence. Challenge the status quo. It's all possible with Simul8. Whatever your priorities and ambitions, Simul8 is designed to rapidly unlock significant value and drive a serious, positive impact across your organization from day one. From decisions that save millions, to saving lives, organizations in every industry are driving transformative changes with Simul8. We’re proud to support and celebrate world-changers — people and organizations who are using simulation to make a real impact on social, health and environmental issues.
    Starting Price: $250 per user per month
  • 3
    Ansys Sherlock
    Ansys Sherlock is the only reliability physics-based electronics design tool that provides fast and accurate life predictions for electronic hardware at the component, board and system levels in early stage design. Ansys Sherlock automated design analysis provides fast and accurate life predictions for electronic hardware at the component, board and system levels in early design stages. Sherlock bypasses the ‘test-fail-fix-repeat’ cycle by empowering designers to accurately model silicon–metal layers, semiconductor packaging, printed circuit boards (PCBs) and assemblies to predict failure risks due to thermal, mechanical and manufacturing stressors--all before prototype. With embedded libraries containing over 500,000 parts, Sherlock rapidly converts electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) files into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) models. Each model contains accurate geometries, material properties and translates stress information.
  • 4
    ReliaSoft

    ReliaSoft

    Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK)

    ReliaSoft software provides a powerful range of reliability software solutions to facilitate a comprehensive set of reliability engineering modeling and analysis techniques. We are the leading reliability solution provider for product test, design, maintenance strategy and optimization. Our products support a wide range of reliability and maintainability analysis techniques, such as life data analysis, accelerated life testing, system modelling and RAM analysis, reliability growth, FRACAS, FMEA and RCM analysis to meet and improve reliability of your products, processes and optimize maintenance planning.
  • 5
    Moldex3D

    Moldex3D

    Moldex3D

    Moldex3D is the world leading CAE product for the plastic injection molding industry. With the best-in-class analysis technology, Moldex3D can help you carry out in-depth simulations of the widest range of injection molding processes and to optimize product designs and manufacturability. In addition, its high compatibility and adaptability have provided users with an instant connection to mainstream CAD systems, generating a flexible simulation-driven design platform. Moldex3D is designed for auto manufacturers and design engineers to simulate and verify complex auto parts/molds based on true 3D technology. With Moldex3D, auto designers or makers are able to manage the life cycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacturing. This also helps component designers or suppliers to get rid of most potential problems in the early stage. Also, visualization of the entire injection molding processes of auto parts allows users to obtain solutions more efficiently.
  • 6
    Luminary Cloud

    Luminary Cloud

    Luminary Cloud

    Luminary Cloud is the world’s first modern computer-aided engineering SaaS platform that provides engineers insights in minutes, allowing for quick simulation, analysis, and iteration that were once impossible. Experience the magic of running simulations in minutes on the most advanced GPUs in the cloud. Securely store, access, and analyze all your raw simulation data to discover insights and optimize engineering designs. Run experiments faster for better product design and quality while reducing the chance of defects. Accelerate time to market by optimizing engineering efficiency and dramatically lower hardware, prototyping, and physical testing costs. Empower your team to create their best designs with faster insights and results, with the most accessible simulation platform. Run fast simulations at any scale, collaborate around the world with project sharing, and start analyzing results instantly.
    Starting Price: $5 per credit
  • 7
    ENCY

    ENCY

    ENCY Software

    ENCY is a CAD/CAM for a new generation that combines advanced CAM technology with an intuitive user interface and natural workflow. It supports multi-axis machining, G-code generation, and 2D and 3D CAD modeling, with applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing. Core Features: - Advanced Toolpath Calculation: Customized toolpaths maximize machine capabilities and safety - High-Resolution Simulation: Realistic solid and voxel simulations for material removal, collision checking, additive, and painting processes - Seamless integration with ENCY Tuner and ENCY Clouds Highlights: - Modern interface with a dark theme - Extensive technological capabilities - Powerful Multiaxis Milling, Mill-Turn and Swiss Turning - Additive and Hybrid manufacturing - Machine-Aware Technology: toolpath calculation considering the digital twin of the machine - Direct toolpath editing - State-of-the-art simulation - Postprocessor generator
  • 8
    ETAP Software
    ETAP® is a full spectrum analytical engineering software company specializing in the analysis, simulation, monitoring, control, optimization, and automation of electrical power systems. ETAP electrical engineering software offers the best and most comprehensive suite of integrated power system enterprise solution.
  • 9
    MASTA
    MASTA is a complete suite of CAE software for the design, simulation & analysis of driveline systems from concept through to manufacture. MASTA benefits accurately and rapidly design transmission systems from scratch or imported concepts. Comprehensively understand the life of a mechanical part over the customer duty cycle. Identify potential failure modes early in the product development cycle. Rapidly predict key performance characteristics at the design stage. Easily explore changes in transmission layout, component selection and/or design, materials and manufacturing processes in the convenience of a virtual environment. Perform full system simulations for any transmission or driveline configuration. Incorporate manufacturing simulation at the design stage to reduce process development time & cost. MASTA’s unique and modern architecture written from the ground up in C# makes it a significantly more stable comparative solution for current and future operating systems.
  • 10
    Dive

    Dive

    Dive

    Dive CAE is a cloud-native computational fluid dynamics software platform that enables engineers to simulate complex fluid behaviors, such as free-surface flow, multiphase interactions, heat transfer, and moving machinery, using a mesh-free Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method. It runs entirely in the browser and on high-performance computing infrastructure, so users don’t need local hardware or installation. The mesh-free approach allows for modeling of complex geometry, surface tension, non-Newtonian fluids, and transient flows without the time-consuming meshing and tuning required by conventional CFD. Onboarding is fast (typically under one day), and the software supports parallel design-of-experiment workflows that deliver multiple iterations in hours rather than days. Dive CAE emphasizes collaboration, license simplicity (one licence for all users), transparent cost control, data usage governance, and scalability via cloud infrastructure.
  • 11
    nTop Platform

    nTop Platform

    nTopology

    Engineering software built for digital manufacturing The way we build parts has changed. Your engineering software needs to change too. A unifying technique for design, simulation, and manufacturing data. The nTop Platform approach removes geometry bottlenecks in design by achieving more efficient workflows, dramatically improving team collaboration with faster iteration, enabling smarter, more complex designs to meet performance demands. By utilizing nTop Platform’s breakthrough computational modeling techniques, design teams can process and evaluate more design concepts than ever before. Find the most optimal solution in a shorter amount of time. At nTopology we know that your engineering know-how is the most valuable asset in your organization. nTop Platform makes that know-how accessible, shareable and, most importantly, secure across your entire organization.
  • Previous
  • You're on page 1
  • Next